Page 79 of Red My Lips

I throw myself at him, and his arms wrap around me in a tight hug. I breathe in the smell of his Old Spice as I press my face into his bulky chest.

He’s real.

“You’re alive.” I pull back to look at him—excitement, confusion, and outrage swirling through me. “You’re alive?”

I glance at Gage, my eyes clashing with his and momentarily getting caught in their intensity. I rip my gaze from his to refocus on my brother when he starts talking. Tommy breathes out a breath of relief like he’d been worried this was all a trap. “I’m alive. It’s a long story, Jilly. I—”

“A story he’s going to be telling without sparing any details,” Gage states darkly. My eyes dart over to glare at the man burning a hole through my forehead. His demanding gaze latches to mine, forcing me to avert my eyes before I’m being sucked in.

“Tell me.” Taking several steps backward to create space between me and the two men, I focus on my brother. The weight of my stare makes him fidget in a way that has me narrowing my eyes. I know all of his tells. “What did you do?”

“Nothing! I didn’t actually do anything.” Tommy says defensively. His eyes cut over to Gage nervously before he continues. “Okay, so I got in too deep with Jonas.”

“I already know that part.”

“I know, I know. You were never supposed to have to take over my debt like that. I was going to win enough to pay him. I just needed a few more good games. You know how good I am when I’m on a winning streak.” Tommy’s eyes glaze over like they always do when he’s talking about his addiction. “And I was doing it. I was winning. I won over fifty grand, but I knew I could do better. I was going to double it. But then Danny Cordon won the pot. He’s always been a fucking cheat—I had him. He shouldn’t have had that pair. It didn’t make any sense.” My brother starts rambling, veering off track as he starts spiraling to himself.

“Tommy, focus,” I say, snapping him out of it.

“I lost the money. All of it. And Jonas wasn’t happy about it, so he sent his guys to…remind me of what happens if I didn’t pay. I had to get the money another way. I didn’t have a choice.” Something in his tone has my gut clenching with dread. He pauses for a moment that spells trouble.

“Then I heard about the reward money.” My stomach drops.

“What reward money?” I bite out slowly. Tommy winces.

“Carter’s parents. They were offering a lot of money to know what happened to him. A lot of money.” I remain silent, my stare turning cold as he continues. “I wasn’t gonna tell them everything. Just enough to get the payout.”

“How did you even know about Carter?”

“I saw you. Carter was at the dock that night to meet me. I was going to convince him to spot me some cash, but you got to him first.”

My head is swimming with a million thoughts all at once, anger and denial swirling through me. But one feeling pangs through me without question. Betrayal.

“You were going to sell me out?” My eyes rip from my brother to look at Gage for confirmation. His deep gaze holds mine easily as he stands unmoving.

“I was going to tell the truth. You made your choices, and I had to make mine. I wasn’t happy about it.” Tommy spreads out his hands defensively.

After all I’ve done for him, Tommy was going to betray me. Turn me in for a paycheck. He was just using me. Again. My entire life, all I’ve ever been to him was a card in his hand to play whenever it suited him. He didn’t give a damn about me, he never has.

He still doesn’t.

I’ve been avenging a brother I never had. A man who never saw me as family or even a friend. A person who’s only ever been out for himself.

Anger simmers inside me like molten lava brewing. I’m a fucking volcano ready to erupt and cause total devastation. My eyes move from the pathetic excuse of a brother and look at Gage. His eyes lock with mine like he’s just been waiting for me to look his way again. His entire body is tensed, corded muscles in his arms bulging against the tight fists clenching at his sides. I can’t tell what urge he’s currently fighting—the need to touch me or the impulse to throttle Tommy.

“You knew about this?” I ask, the angry words coming out as an accusation.

“I stopped him.”

Gage’s statement says so much.

“After beating me to within an inch of my life,” Tommy interjects. He takes a step closer to me, his tone changing like he’s trying to reason with me. Gage takes a step closer in response. “This guy is a violent lunatic, Jilly. You can’t trust him, he’s fucking crazy. Let’s get rid of him, and we can go back home. Just the two of us.”

“Just the two of us?” I scoff. “You were going to rat me out. Throw me to the wolves to save yourself.”

“Hey, you’re the one who killed a man. I was just cashing in before you did your time. The cops would’ve found out who did it eventually.” Realizing that he’s not helping his case, Tommy changes his tune. “Look, I’m really sorry. Okay? I never would’ve gone through with it—you’re my sister. I’m sorry for even thinking about it. We’ve gotta stick together. We’re all each other has.”

“He called to make an appointment with the detective.” Gage’s deep voice cuts in. Tommy throws him a glare before turning his pleading eyes back to me.

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